Romania’s planned SMR to be part of nuclear-solar power complex

Two large solar power plants have been completed in Romania, highlighting a massive wave of investments in the sector. The Doicești-Şotânga photovoltaic park of 80 MW has been put into operation as part of a future nuclear-solar power complex intended to include Europe’s first small modular reactor (SMR).

The Doicești-Şotânga solar park will supply electricity for all the equipment and machinery used in the development of the SMR plant but also for the nuclear unit’s internal services following its commissioning, according to E-Infra, a Romanian private company involved in the SMR project.

The solar park will supply power for works on the SMR plant

The solar park consists of over 123,000 photovoltaic panels on an area of 115 hectares. The lifespan of the bifacial monocrystalline devices is 25 years.

The energy complex in Doicești will demonstrate the complementarity of the two clean energy sources – nuclear and renewable, E-infra added.

RoPower Nuclear, a joint venture between Romanian state-run nuclear power company Nuclearelectrica and E-Infra’s subsidiary Nova Power and Gas, is the project company for the SMR plant. It is working together with United States-based NuScale Power, which is developing its VOYGR reactors, intended to be installed at the future complex.

The complex will demonstrate the complementarity of nuclear energy and renewables

The SMR plant will be built on the site of the former Doicești coal-fired power plant.

Enel puts 63 MW solar park in Romania into operation

In other news, Enel Green Power Romania, Enel Group’s renewable energy arm, has commissioned a 63 MW photovoltaic park in Călugăreni in Giurgiu county, after completing its takeover from Greece’s Mytilineos. With an annual electricity output of about 99 GWh, the solar power plant is the largest so far in the firm’s photovoltaic portfolio.

The project allows for installing energy storage capacities

The solar park features some 120,000 bifacial panels, with a lifespan of 30 years. The project allows for adding energy storage capacities, according to local media.

Earlier this year, Enel signed an agreement to sell its entire business in Romania to Greece’s Public Power Corp.

Enel Green Power Romania operates a wind and solar portfolio totaling about 600 MW and it is the country’s second-largest power distribution company.